In a significant development, sailors held captive by Somali pirates have been released without any ransom being paid, as confirmed by State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury during a press briefing at his official residence on Minto Road, Dhaka, on Sunday morning.
Addressing reporters, the state minister stated, "We have negotiated with them, the talks have been ongoing for a long time. There is no issue of ransom here. Our negotiation, accompanied by various external pressures, has been fruitful."
He further clarified, "We do not have any information that this ship has been released with money. Many people are circulating different types of pictures, but there is no truth in these images. We don`t know their source or how they are circulating."
Acknowledging the collaborative efforts involved, Chowdhury expressed gratitude, saying, "It has been a joint effort involving our Department of Shipping, various international organizations, European Naval forces, the Indian Navy, and the Somali Police. I would like to extend my thanks to the Somalia Puntland Police for their unwavering cooperation throughout. The International Maritime community has also played a crucial role."
The successful liberation of MV Abdullah from Somali pirates occurred around 4:30 a.m. on the same day, with the vessel now en route to the port of Dubai, marking the culmination of extensive international efforts to secure the sailors` freedom.
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